The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-11

the sea, "Give the Captain my re-
spects, and tell him l will come
aboard tomorrow morning. l I'M
derstand some of his men have never
cross the line, before, and / wish to
make them true subjects of Nep-
tune"
The voice died away in the dis
lance, and all relapsed into the usual
silence of the ship.
Turning to sailor, near him, the
Chaplain asked, "Who is thatY"
"Why, sir" answered the sailor
with a merry twinkle of the eye,
"That his Majesty -old Neptune
he always comes aboard, when we
are crossing the line"
"Neptune! Is there really such a
person."
'Indeed, there is, sir, and you
will see him tomorrow, sure
enough said the sailor, moving
away, and almost swallowing his
shirt sleeve in his efforts to suppress
his merriment, and when he reached
his own quarters was heard to re-
mark to his mates:
"rm blowed, fellows--if the gos-
pei sharp amt the rummiest one l
ever saw"
The next morning at about nine
O'Clock, with a show of ceremony
his Marine Majesty, accompanied
by his wife, child, Private Secretary,
doctors and full staff, arrayed in the
native uniform, come alongside
Neptune, staff in hand led the pro-
cession, followed by Mrs. Neptune,
who was mounted on a gun carriage.
They marched aft until they were
met by the officer in charge of the
deck; aud by him formally presented
TO the Captain and his officers, after
which he was presented to the crew,
who with three rousing cheers bid
him welcome to the Blunderbuss.
After indulging In general hand
shaking the Royal Procession again
took up the march to the starboard
gangway, where the Private Secre-
tary called the roll of the entire
ships company. AS each name was
called--the person if a previous
crosser of the line, made proof of
his so doing, and then returned to
his place in line. Those who had
not crossed the line, took position
on the left of the Secretary. OF the
oflicers-the loquacious midshipman
and the Chaplain, failed to supply
the necessary proofs and were con-
signed to the ordeal. About one
third of the crew were also placed in
the same category.
This being over, on a motion of
Neptune, Tarpaulin was rugged in
the starboard gangway, the pumps
were promptly manned, and water
to the depth of about five feet
pumped into the Tarpaulin. A
frame structure was next erected on
the side of the Tarpaulin, a
seat, resembling tonsorial place of
torture was placed in the centre,
and sea barber stationed on each
side. Everything now being in COM
Dlete readiness, the Private Secre-
AIRY called out the name Of the
Chaplain. The gentleman in great
nervous excitement stepped to the
iront-and on the command of
Neptune was led below to assume
,arb more fitting the ceremony than
he uniform he wore. In about ten
minutes he returned, arrayed in a
'uit of linen, and was led to the
Platform near which the sub-Marine
Majesty stood-who with great |
gravity of manner shook him by |
he hand-and after wishing him a |
pleasant outcoming from the ordeal, |
him to his wife-who in
sisted upon his kissing young Nep-
une whose face had been be-
with shoe backing This
icing reluctantly done, he was
landed oyer to the tender mercies
If the doctors, who examined his
,ody, through the medium of sun
Try we'll DIRECTED thrusts and blows,
esting the strength of his teeth
With a large pair of iron tongues,
md then thrusting under his nose a
,ottle of salts-whose cork was
dorned with rows of pin points
lie was pronounced in good physical
and handed to the BAR
,ers.
During all this the Rev. gentle
nan, was picture of dismay and
lerYousness-in fact his limbs so
rembled that they were scarcely
bile to hold his body erect.
ITO be continued.)